Dementia costs us dear in more than cash terms

ALL too often those who care for people with dementia are left dealing with the immense strain it places on them without the support they really need.

PUBLISHED: 00:01, Wed, May 7, 2014

STRAIN: Caring for someone with dementia can be a challenging task for the whole family[GETTY]

A report commissioned by the Alzheimer’s Society has found that nine out of 10 businesses would consider letting carers work flexible hours and 61 per cent of employers would be willing to grant extended leave.

We are now used to the idea that businesses are willing to offer flexible terms of employment to help parents with young children but it is important that employers also recognise the growing problem of dementia which affects families with loved ones facing the problems of old age.

The report is encouraging but also claims that caring for dementia sufferers costs English businesses up to £1.6billion.

Ukip officials say they expect their party to be bigger than the Lib Dems by the time of the British general election next year

The real cost of course is the emotional strain placed on immediate family members and even on the colleagues of those who are acting as carers in their own homes outside working hours.

Ukip is beating Lib Dems

With elections for the European Parliament taking place in just over two weeks the British opinion of Brussels is becoming ever clearer.

Ukip currently has more than 37,000 registered members which is only 7,000 less than the avowedly pro-EU Lib Dems.

Ukip officials say they expect their party to be bigger than the Lib Dems by the time of the British general election next year.

That is a significant vote of confidence in Nigel Farage’s policies.

The fact that increasing numbers of people are choosing to back the only major party actively campaigning for Britain to leave the EU is yet more evidence that Britons have had enough of EU membership.

This was further supported by research from the British Election Study which showed that if a referendum was held now, more people would support leaving the EU than staying in.

That the political establishment has still not allowed us a say on our future membership of the EU in the face of such strong opposition is shameful.